Niagara County Legislator Paul B. Wojtaszek, R-North
Tonawanda, who chairs the Legislature's community safety and security committee,
issued the following statement about a serious accident involving Niagara
County Sheriff's Deputy Allen Gerhardt:

"I've been in contact with Sheriff Voutour and a number of
my colleagues in the Legislature regarding last night's accident in the Town of
Porter. First, I want to extend the best wishes and prayers of the Niagara
County Legislature for a speedy recovery to Deputy Gerhardt. Obviously, this
was a serious accident, and we are hopeful that he is able to soon be home with
his wife and three children.

"Niagara County stands behind the men and women who wear the
uniform of our Sheriff's Office. We trust that Sheriff Voutour will conduct a
full investigation, and that Sheriff's Office procedures in the time leading up
to the accident will receive full scrutiny by the sheriff as well as the community safety and security committee. We are committed to the safety of our
deputies, and will help our sheriff take all reasonable steps to protect their
health and safety.

"We understand that Deputy Gerhardt was injured responding
to another deputy's call for assistance. It speaks volumes about the special
bond of trust among our county's law enforcement professionals that Deputy
Gerhardt was rushing to help a fellow law enforcement officer when he lost
control of his vehicle. We will honor that bond of trust moving forward, and
will be a ready partner willing to help the Sheriff's Office as it copes and
addresses the safety of our deputies."